Guest Post: Great apps for Seattle residents and socialites

Stephanie is a 30-something Seattle resident who loves everything about the Emerald City. She’s currently a full time student studying web development and computer programming, but in her free time she can be found eating and drinking her way through Seattle, or stuck on the bus trying to get there.

As a gal about town in my lovely city of Seattle, I love having information at my fingertips through my HTC Evo. I use all kinds of apps, from list makers to exercise trackers, but some of my most favorite, and most useful, are the Seattle specific apps that I’ve downloaded. These apps keep me updated on the latest events, news, and even when my next bus will arrive. Here are a few of my favorite local apps.

Seattle Weekly – Seattle Weekly is a local weekly newspaper designed to keep Seattle residents up to date on all the latest happenings. Whether you’re looking for concerts, restaurant openings, festivals, or trivia night at your favorite pub, the Weekly will point you in the right direction. The app brings all of this information to my fingertips and I can access it anywhere. I like that I can filter by type of entertainment (art, music, nightlife, etc.) and within each category, I can filter down further (such as type of bar or restaurant, art galleries vs. poetry reading, etc.). It’s a handy little tool that keeps me “in the know” about all things Seattle.

Happy Hours – Who doesn’t love a good Happy Hour? I have several favorite spots that offer amazing happy hour specials, but sometimes I’m in the mood to try something different or it’s that magical hour and I’m nowhere near my familiar watering holes. Enter the Happy Hour app. This app is available in many cities and is powered by GoTime.com and several print/web papers (including the above mentioned Seattle Weekly). If you’re in the mood for Happy Hour, all you have to do is open the app, give your phone a little shake, and it brings up the closest happy hours within the vicinity. I’ve found the ads to be a little annoying on this app, but overall it’s a fun one to use.

Seattle Public Library – The Seattle area is lucky to have two major library systems, Seattle Public Library and King County Library. The Seattle Public Library (SPL) has often been a frontrunner when it comes to the technology they offer their patrons, and they haven’t disappointed in the world of mobile media. As a regular library user, I absolutely LOVE the SPL app. I can search for books in the library catalog, learn about upcoming events and readings, and even access my account to place holds on books or pay fines.

One Bus Away – I don’t own a car, so 95 percent of the time I rely on public transportation to get me where I need to be. The One Bus Away app is quite possibly one of the best apps ever invented. At any bus stop, I can open the app to see when my bus will be arriving. It tells me if it’s early, on time, or running late. The app is also linked to King County Metro’s website so I can easily access full bus schedules and maps if I’m not sure exactly which route would be best. I’ve heard complaints about this app, that it’s unreliable and often incorrect, but I’ve actually never had a bad experience with it. It has been one or two minutes off at times, but for the most part it suits me perfectly.